duncan228
02-22-2010, 01:00 AM
Spurs wrap up road trip with loss in Detroit (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_wrap_up_road_trip_with_loss_in_Detroit.html)
Jeff McDonald
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Gregg Popovich dusted off a trick from the 2008 playoffs. Manu Ginobili dusted off his game from 2005.
And by the time Tim Duncan hauled out his own relic? It was not enough to save the Spurs.
After Detroit pulled out a 109-101 overtime victory Sunday, the Spurs began a long trip home to face questions about their chances of making similar playoff memories this year.
It marked the Spurs' second consecutive loss to a sub-.500 team, joining Friday's pratfall in Philadelphia, ending their rodeo trip at 4-4.
“We thought we could use the last four or five games to really get a run going,” Duncan said. “Then we drop two we feel we should have won.”
Typically, the Spurs (31-23) return home from their annual rodeo trip looking to continue momentum. They return from this one hoping to stop the bleeding.
With the loss, which included a wild Ginobili-led comeback to force OT, the Spurs matched their worst rodeo finish. The last time they went .500 was also the year of their last championship, 2007.
The times feel different now. Now, the Spurs are locked in a battle with Portland for seventh in the West.
“We are losing too many great opportunities,” Ginobili said.
Another came Sunday.
With Tony Parker out again, Popovich started his 18th new lineup of the season — going small with George Hill at the point, Roger Mason and Keith Bogans at wing, and Richard Jefferson playing power forward next to Duncan, the new center.
“Because I'm tricky and smart,” Popovich chuckled before the game.
It didn't quite work. Richard Hamilton had 27 points to lead Detroit, Rodney Stuckey had 20, and both came up big in OT.
Give the Spurs credit. They didn't take their second straight stomach punch lying down.
His team behind 11 with less than five minutes to play, Popovich unleashed on Detroit's Ben Wallace a fouling technique last employed against Shaquille O'Neal. Hack-a-Ben worked to perfection.
As the Palace crowd howled, Wallace — a 44 percent foul shooter — made three of eight free throws, allowing the Spurs to inch back.
On came Ginobili who, in a building that housed memories of the 2005 Finals, threatened to drag the Spurs to victory solo. He found Antonio McDyess on a pick-and-roll, pulled up for a 3-pointer, and drove to earn two free throws.
What happened next was part luck, part Ginobili. He scooped up a loose ball — an errant Stuckey pass had hit official Bennie Adams in the leg — and scrambled the length of the floor for another 3-pointer to pull the Spurs within 91-90.
More Ginobili: With the Spurs down three, he crept up on Hamilton and drew a charge. An incensed Hamilton foolishly fouled Ginobili on the next possession before the ball had been inbounded, awarding Ginobili a shot and the Spurs the ball.
Ginobili hit the free throw to cut it to two, then the tying layup with 27.5 seconds left.
“He made some unbelievable plays,” McDyess said of Ginobili. “I thought he was going to pull it out for us.”
Ginobili finished with 21 points, 16 after the half. Duncan had 29 points and 10 rebounds.
“I thought guys busted their butts,” Popovich said.
It wasn't enough.
Two minutes into OT, Stuckey made his third 3-pointer of the game — after hitting seven all season — to give Detroit (20-35) a four-point lead. Another 19-footer followed a Hamilton 3-point play, and Detroit led by seven with 1:28 left.
By the time Duncan threw in a rare 3 of his own, it was inconsequential.
Before Sunday, Duncan hadn't hit one since sending Game 1 of the 2008 playoffs' first round against Phoenix into overtime. His most recent 3-pointer, meanwhile, only cut the Spurs' deficit to 107-101 with 6.4 seconds remaining.
In '08, Duncan's three was just enough, at just the right time. Sunday, it was too little, too late.
Jeff McDonald
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Gregg Popovich dusted off a trick from the 2008 playoffs. Manu Ginobili dusted off his game from 2005.
And by the time Tim Duncan hauled out his own relic? It was not enough to save the Spurs.
After Detroit pulled out a 109-101 overtime victory Sunday, the Spurs began a long trip home to face questions about their chances of making similar playoff memories this year.
It marked the Spurs' second consecutive loss to a sub-.500 team, joining Friday's pratfall in Philadelphia, ending their rodeo trip at 4-4.
“We thought we could use the last four or five games to really get a run going,” Duncan said. “Then we drop two we feel we should have won.”
Typically, the Spurs (31-23) return home from their annual rodeo trip looking to continue momentum. They return from this one hoping to stop the bleeding.
With the loss, which included a wild Ginobili-led comeback to force OT, the Spurs matched their worst rodeo finish. The last time they went .500 was also the year of their last championship, 2007.
The times feel different now. Now, the Spurs are locked in a battle with Portland for seventh in the West.
“We are losing too many great opportunities,” Ginobili said.
Another came Sunday.
With Tony Parker out again, Popovich started his 18th new lineup of the season — going small with George Hill at the point, Roger Mason and Keith Bogans at wing, and Richard Jefferson playing power forward next to Duncan, the new center.
“Because I'm tricky and smart,” Popovich chuckled before the game.
It didn't quite work. Richard Hamilton had 27 points to lead Detroit, Rodney Stuckey had 20, and both came up big in OT.
Give the Spurs credit. They didn't take their second straight stomach punch lying down.
His team behind 11 with less than five minutes to play, Popovich unleashed on Detroit's Ben Wallace a fouling technique last employed against Shaquille O'Neal. Hack-a-Ben worked to perfection.
As the Palace crowd howled, Wallace — a 44 percent foul shooter — made three of eight free throws, allowing the Spurs to inch back.
On came Ginobili who, in a building that housed memories of the 2005 Finals, threatened to drag the Spurs to victory solo. He found Antonio McDyess on a pick-and-roll, pulled up for a 3-pointer, and drove to earn two free throws.
What happened next was part luck, part Ginobili. He scooped up a loose ball — an errant Stuckey pass had hit official Bennie Adams in the leg — and scrambled the length of the floor for another 3-pointer to pull the Spurs within 91-90.
More Ginobili: With the Spurs down three, he crept up on Hamilton and drew a charge. An incensed Hamilton foolishly fouled Ginobili on the next possession before the ball had been inbounded, awarding Ginobili a shot and the Spurs the ball.
Ginobili hit the free throw to cut it to two, then the tying layup with 27.5 seconds left.
“He made some unbelievable plays,” McDyess said of Ginobili. “I thought he was going to pull it out for us.”
Ginobili finished with 21 points, 16 after the half. Duncan had 29 points and 10 rebounds.
“I thought guys busted their butts,” Popovich said.
It wasn't enough.
Two minutes into OT, Stuckey made his third 3-pointer of the game — after hitting seven all season — to give Detroit (20-35) a four-point lead. Another 19-footer followed a Hamilton 3-point play, and Detroit led by seven with 1:28 left.
By the time Duncan threw in a rare 3 of his own, it was inconsequential.
Before Sunday, Duncan hadn't hit one since sending Game 1 of the 2008 playoffs' first round against Phoenix into overtime. His most recent 3-pointer, meanwhile, only cut the Spurs' deficit to 107-101 with 6.4 seconds remaining.
In '08, Duncan's three was just enough, at just the right time. Sunday, it was too little, too late.